Salamat Madrid

Salamat sells Middle Eastern pasties. Syrian, which are made on-site with the best ingredients. All the classics are there - pistachio, walnuts, almonds, dates and honey stuffed into flaky filo or crumbly pastry. If you're in Madrid, treat yourself or buy some delicious delicacies to take to a dinner party or give as a gift.

This part of town is where I go when I need some more exotic ingredients, as the grocers here are mostly Bangladeshi and North African and sell all sorts of spices, as well as everything else you might need to make a good curry or couscous. And whenever I find myself in Calle Tribulete, I always stop by Salamat to get a few little sweets.

They also stock Middle Eastern bread, tahini and loose tea - if you are lucky, the lovely Syrian owner will offer you a complementary glass of hot sweet black tea, flavoured with cardamom.

So forget the diet, and put the kettle on!